Found Deceased Michele Ann Joy Bourda, 59, British tourist, suddenly disappeared from Ofrynio beach in Kavala, Greece, 1 Aug 2025

[miss marble]

Have found the LBC article about the supposed sighting, but it's just as lacking in detail (name, direct quotes) as the DM article. It sounds like third hand information which isn't helpful unless verified from the original source.

Brit missing from beach in Greece while husband slept was ‘warned not to swim out too far’ by witness | LBC

A British woman who vanished from her sunbed on a Greek beach while her husband slept had been warned not to swim out too far to sea, a witness said.

www.lbc.co.uk

It does appear on the face of it to be a tragic accident/misadventure but there's things that don't quite add up, but maybe it's just the lack of information and accurate reporting.

I maybe wrong but it seems strange that there seems to be virtually no local reporting from Greek media compared with other similar incidents. This beach is described as generally calm and shallow and suitable for children to swim in. Plus, I can't find any information about previous drownings occurring at this beach, so I would have thought this disappearance would have drawn more local media attention.

Also re shoes, the beach is sandy but I imagine the sand is very hot at that time of day so I personally would wear shoes to get to the sea from the sunbed and then take them off before getting in the sea, leaving them by the water's edge.
Also if she was wearing a hat and glasses it would appear she wasn't a serious swimmer who planned to swim out into the deep water, but was more likely having a dip to cool off which you could do on this beach without going out of your depth.
Just my thoughts.

 

[Sarahlou]

I don't think anything suspicious happened here, especially after that latest update. I hope they find her soon.

 

[Dotta]

I don't think anything suspicious happened here, especially after that latest update. I hope they find her soon.

That was exactly my first thought.

Intense heat + age of the person + the Sea.

My Dad who is a strong swimmer
nearly drowned in the Baltic Sea
as the waves were pulling him away from the shore and he was getting weaker.

But...
Miracle!

Suddenly a man on a mattress appeared and told Dad to get onto it.
Dad was too weak
but he grasped the end of the mattress and they moved to the shore.

When Dad wanted to thank the man on the beach,
he suddenly vanished.

Was he a life guard??

People should respect the Sea and its power.

It is not a pool.
Although one can drown in the pool either.

JMO

 

[CityKid]

"Possible sighting ​

of missing Brit who vanished from sunbed on Greek beach while husband slept ​

is revealed ​

- as witness describes final action he saw her take and warning he gave her."​

https://twitter.com/x/status/1952654546255192529

IMO: I'm not buying it. Was she literally the only one in the water at this popular beach? She is being described as "swimming," not splashing around or wading. She might have gone in with swim shoes, but he wouldn't have seen them. He wouldn't have been able to ID her swimsuit. She wouldn't have been swimming with her distinctive red glasses. The man is, per the DM, a sports instructor. If he were truly alarmed that she was out too deep, he would have sought out a lifeguard (per Paralia Ofriniou Thrace, Greece - detailed features, map, photos there are lifeguards less that 0.6km, 3/8 of a mile, away). MOO.

 

[miss marble]

Yep, maybe I'm being too suspicious but there was seemingly a lack of witnesses to the disappearance and now we suddenly have a convenient sighting from a 'sports instructor 'warning Michele to not go any further.
Firstly, who is this sports instructor, I hope LE have their name and have spoken to them rather than it being 3rd hand hearsay.
Secondly, if they exist, is it normal to shout at strangers to tell them not to swim any further?
I can understand warning children but if I saw a mature adult swimming out in a reportedly calm waters I would assume they were a competent swimmer.
Also, as @CityKid points out, if you were worried enough to warn them then wouldn't you keep any eye on them and if they looked in distress or disappeared under the water wouldn't you report it to the life guard?
It all seems rather odd imo.
Also strange there are no reported quotes from the husband?

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I can understand being concerned about someone swimming into an unsafe rip area.
I think people who knew about unsafe areas to swim would warn them, especially if they were children or older people.

You can't force people to listen to your warning.

Also I'm sure this sports instructor would have helped if he thought the lady was in trouble.

Who knows, it might turn out that he did report it.

How long should he have hung around, just in case.
I imagine patrolling the beach was not his actual job.

I'm going to cut him some slack.

 

[Smccat]

I find it strange that, as far as I can find, the Greek press haven't picked this up at all.
Makes you wonder where our Sky/DM/LBC are sourcing their info.

 

[CityKid]

Yep, maybe I'm being too suspicious but there was seemingly a lack of witnesses to the disappearance and now we suddenly have a convenient sighting from a 'sports instructor 'warning Michele to not go any further.
Firstly, who is this sports instructor, I hope LE have their name and have spoken to them rather than it being 3rd hand hearsay.
Secondly, if they exist, is it normal to shout at strangers to tell them not to swim any further?
I can understand warning children but if I saw a mature adult swimming out in a reportedly calm waters I would assume they were a competent swimmer.
Also, as @CityKid points out, if you were worried enough to warn them then wouldn't you keep any eye on them and if they looked in distress or disappeared under the water wouldn't you report it to the life guard?
It all seems rather odd imo.
Also strange there are no reported quotes from the husband?

I agree with all of this. I also wonder how far out she was swimming that she would hear someone on shore yelling to her. No other beachgoers have corroborated this. Also, Ofrynio beach is very kid-friendly and the clear waters are popular with divers. I couldn't find any evidence that this is an area where rip currents are a problem.

48 hours in Ofrynio Beach – Costa Ofrynio: 8 experiences not to be missed! – Costa Ofrynio Booking

costaofryniobooking.gr

 

[C.greek]

I find it strange that, as far as I can find, the Greek press haven't picked this up at all.
Makes you wonder where our Sky/DM/LBC are sourcing their info.

Actually there have been some reports in the Greek press and the silver alert is being shown on greek TV. I think it could be considered a tragic accident with the available information.

just to clarify about the Silver alert In Greece, it is also for people who might have serious health issues that without their medication could put their lives in danger. They need their doctor's reports to clarify what health issues they have so that a silver alert is used.

Also the country in thr North of Greece is officially called North Macedonia. Macedonia is a region in the Northern Greece.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Three unanswered questions after British woman, 59, goes missing from Greek beach

The disappearance of Michele Ann Joy Bourda has prompted a wide-ranging search of land and sea

inews.co.uk

Police search teams have also been working to find any trace of Ms Bourda on land.

A FCDO Spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British woman who is missing in Greece and are in contact with local authorities.”

In a press release issued by the Hellenic Coastguard, Ms Bourda was described as a “swimmer”. Mail Online reports that she was seen getting into deep water and was told to not go any further.
However, the exact circumstances around her disappearance remain unconfirmed.

Greek authorities have concentrated search and rescue efforts in the sea and on land, indicating that there is a lack of clarity over whether or not Ms Bourda entered the water.

A source told The Sun: “We are giving it our all.”

They added that “there are still no signs as to whether she went missing on land or sea”.

 

[Teche]

Does MB have any known medical or mental health issues? Other then the husband, does she have other family members?

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Sun, sea… and a baffling disappearance: Brit woman vanishes from Greek beach as coastguard mounts huge search

British woman Michele Bourda, 59, mysteriously vanished from a Greek beach while her husband napped. Her belongings were left behind as coastguard and police launched a massive land-and-sea search.

www.ibtimes.co.uk

She was beside her Greek husband, who decided to take a short nap. When he opened his eyes, she was gone.

Her lounger was empty. Her bag, sunglasses and water shoes were still neatly placed beside it. But Michele had vanished without a trace.

 

[Smccat]

Actually there have been some reports in the Greek press and the silver alert is being shown on greek TV. I think it could be considered a tragic accident with the available information.

just to clarify about the Silver alert In Greece, it is also for people who might have serious health issues that without their medication could put their lives in danger. They need their doctor's reports to clarify what health issues they have so that a silver alert is used.

Also the country in thr North of Greece is officially called North Macedonia. Macedonia is a region in the Northern Greece.

Thanks for this info.

Could you link any articles I have missed or are they just on the TV /in print?

I have looked at Ekathimerini and Ta Nea.

 

[Sarahlou]

I agree with all of this. I also wonder how far out she was swimming that she would hear someone on shore yelling to her. No other beachgoers have corroborated this. Also, Ofrynio beach is very kid-friendly and the clear waters are popular with divers. I couldn't find any evidence that this is an area where rip currents are a problem.

48 hours in Ofrynio Beach – Costa Ofrynio: 8 experiences not to be missed! – Costa Ofrynio Booking

costaofryniobooking.gr

He might have been in the water too? Unless I missed the bit that said he was on the shore.

 

[CityKid]

Three unanswered questions after British woman, 59, goes missing from Greek beach

The disappearance of Michele Ann Joy Bourda has prompted a wide-ranging search of land and sea

inews.co.uk

Police search teams have also been working to find any trace of Ms Bourda on land.

A FCDO Spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British woman who is missing in Greece and are in contact with local authorities.”

In a press release issued by the Hellenic Coastguard, Ms Bourda was described as a “swimmer”. Mail Online reports that she was seen getting into deep water and was told to not go any further.
However, the exact circumstances around her disappearance remain unconfirmed.

Greek authorities have concentrated search and rescue efforts in the sea and on land, indicating that there is a lack of clarity over whether or not Ms Bourda entered the water.

A source told The Sun: “We are giving it our all.”

They added that “there are still no signs as to whether she went missing on land or sea”.

BBM. MOO I am suspicious as to whether there have been any credible sightings of Bourda at the beach that day, and any SOURCED reports as to what she was wearing and what she was doing.

 

[C.greek]

Thanks for this info.

Could you link any articles I have missed or are they just on the TV /in print?

I have looked at Ekathimerini and Ta Nea.

Yes sure

Θρίλερ στη Καβάλα: Αγνοείται για 4η μέρα η 59χρονη Βρετανίδα που εξαφανίστηκε από ξαπλώστρα

Οι έρευνες συνεχίζονται, καθώς τελευταία φορά η γυναίκα βρισκόταν σε ξαπλώστρα δίπλα στον σύζυγό της που κοιμόταν, ενώ τα πράγματά της ήταν στην παραλία

www.newsbomb.gr

The below I think has quite a lot of new info, a report from the beach bar owners that her husband told them while searching for her that she is not very well and had disappeared in the past. Also there is mention that the couple were living in the UK and were visiting for the summer holidays. Lastly, the police mention that there is no evidence of any criminal activity surrounding her disappearance.

The sea searches have stopped as is the protocol, and the land searches will continue for 15 days.

Εξαφάνιση 59χρονης στην Καβάλα: «Μην κολυμπήσεις πιο βαθιά» της ζήτησε άνθρωπος που την είδε

Τι είπε ο Έλληνας σύζυγος μόλις αντιλήφθηκε ότι χάθηκε η 59χρονη γυναίκα του - «Δεν υπάρχει κανένα δείγμα εγκληματικής ενέργειας» λέει η Αστυνομία

www.protothema.gr

 

[Bekind89]

I have a rather morbid question, IF she has tragically drowned, which we have no proof of at this time, how difficult would recovering her remains be , in your opinion?

 

[Smccat]

Yes sure

Θρίλερ στη Καβάλα: Αγνοείται για 4η μέρα η 59χρονη Βρετανίδα που εξαφανίστηκε από ξαπλώστρα

Οι έρευνες συνεχίζονται, καθώς τελευταία φορά η γυναίκα βρισκόταν σε ξαπλώστρα δίπλα στον σύζυγό της που κοιμόταν, ενώ τα πράγματά της ήταν στην παραλία

www.newsbomb.gr

The below I think has quite a lot of new info, a report from the beach bar owners that her husband told them while searching for her that she is not very well and had disappeared in the past. Also there is mention that the couple were living in the UK and were visiting for the summer holidays. Lastly, the police mention that there is no evidence of any criminal activity surrounding her disappearance.

The sea searches have stopped as is the protocol, and the land searches will continue for 15 days.

Εξαφάνιση 59χρονης στην Καβάλα: «Μην κολυμπήσεις πιο βαθιά» της ζήτησε άνθρωπος που την είδε

Τι είπε ο Έλληνας σύζυγος μόλις αντιλήφθηκε ότι χάθηκε η 59χρονη γυναίκα του - «Δεν υπάρχει κανένα δείγμα εγκληματικής ενέργειας» λέει η Αστυνομία

www.protothema.gr

Thank you very much

 

[Smccat]

From the article above kindly provided by C.greek

"The only testimony that exists in us - there is no sign of criminal action - is of a bather who saw her, just before her husband woke up and realized that she was missing, swimming in the sea. And nothing else. We have no evidence that she was seen on land," said Mrs. Dimoglidou, adding that according to the Police protocol, the investigations will continue for 15 days.

"Investigations are ongoing. According to the protocol we have, a person can live without food and water for 10 days. We usually expand the investigation and do it in a fortnight, then we essentially stop," he stressed.

In the village of origin of the husband of the 59-year-old missing woman, in Chryso, Serres, the residents are upset by the news.

As the president of the community, Theologis Lazaridis, told the protothema.gr, the husband comes from the village and sometimes visits his father's house.

"The man has been living in England for many years and here he sometimes comes, but not regularly, to his family home but he did not go out into the village. As my fellow villagers told me, he had come to the village a week ago and some people saw him. Then they obviously went on vacation there in Tuzla. Now I don't know exactly what happened, and we learned that the husband slept on the sunbed and when he woke up his wife was lost," said Mr. Lazaridis.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Right, she has a history of disappearing and is not very well.

The reason for them saying she was in danger.